Just what is an ethernet splitter? If you spend some time looking around on-line you will see that many people make the false assumption that a splitter is something they could use to share an internet connection with. It is easy to see why they make this mistake, as the name itself implies that you can split anything that is ethernet based, so why couldn’t you just split your internet connection amongst two computers? These splitters are not designed for sharing an internet connection with. Read on to discover what a splitter is best suited for and how they should be used and setup.

Ehternet splitters, as mentioned above, are not for sharing an internet connection. Many people do not seem to realize this until after they purchase one and find out that nothing works. So what is a splitter for then? A splitter is designed to reduce how much ethernet cable you need when connecting two networks. A network here does not mean the internet, it means either two computers or two LANs. Splitters must be used in pairs. They work because basic LAN traffic only uses 4 wires of an ethernet cable, but these cables actually have 8 wires internally. So, a splitter can save on cable by forcing two lanes of traffic down one cable. Hopefully you can see now how they allow you to save cable. If you had two computers in one room and wanted to connect them via cable to two other computers in a separate room, you could either run two sets of cables or you could use a pair of splitters. If using the splitters then you only need one cable and a splitter at either end. This is a typical scenario of how splitters should be used.

Another problem people don’t realize is that splitters need to be used in pairs. Many people simply buy one splitter and get frustrated because nothing works. Pairs are required because the traffic going in and out of the ethernet cable needs to be merged on one end before it goes in and then separated on the other end when the traffic comes out. Using just one splitter means that traffic can travel into the cable, but when it reaches the other end nothing happens. Because the traffic is merged, upon reaching the other end and the receiving computer there is massive confusion. The receiving computer sees one cable with two lanes of traffic, this is not how network traffic should travel. This problem is solved by placing a splitter which correctly separates the single lane of traffic back into two lanes before sending it onto the receiving computers. This is why using pairs of splitters is crucial, otherwise nothing will work.

Hopefully you can see now why an ethernet splitter won’t work for sharing an internet connection and the correct way they should be used. Splitters are a great way for connecting just a few computers in a network and cutting down on the amount of ethernet cable that is required. They are not suitable for sharing any kind of internet connection.

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Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: ethernet splitter, cable ethernet splitter, rj45 splitter